Q: What is the difference between a DACI and a RACI?

DACI stands for Driver, Approver, Contributor, and Informed, and RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. While some attempt to distinguish the two, DACI and RACI share more similarities than differences. The largest difference is word choice and whether the project manager or team has a personal preference for the letters D or R. Read more with our DACI vs RACI Model Guide: Differences and How to Choose .

Question 1

What is the difference between a DACI and a RACI?

Accepted Answer

DACI stands for Driver, Approver, Contributor, and Informed, and RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. While some attempt to distinguish the two, DACI and RACI share more similarities than differences. The largest difference is word choice and whether the project manager or team has a personal preference for the letters D or R.

Read more with our DACI vs RACI Model Guide: Differences and How to Choose.

Question 2

What is the difference between a DACI and RAPID?

Accepted Answer

DACI and RAPID both are decision-making frameworks that offer teams structure when assigning roles to stakeholders. DACI stands for Driver, Approver, Contributor, and Informed, and RAPID stands for Recommend, Agree, Perform, Input, and Decide. RAPID offers a slightly different approach to decision-making and even more roles to assign stakeholders.

Question 3

What is the purpose of the DACI?

Accepted Answer

DACI is a decision-making framework and responsibility assignment tool that helps teams clearly define roles for a project. Typically created and controlled by project managers, a DACI chart provides visibility into structured workflows and a mechanism for tracking responsibilities. A new team member should be able to review a DACI and understand their role in the context of project decisions.

Question 4

Why is DACI important?

Accepted Answer

DACI is important for project managers and teams that seek structure. With clearly assigned roles and responsibilities, stakeholders can avoid confusion, reduce delays, and improve accountability during the project life cycle. Teams plagued by these problems can use DACI to create a structure enabling project efforts and hardening decision-making.

Question 5

What is the DACI model best for?

Accepted Answer

The DACI model is ideal for any team that needs a clear separation of responsibilities for influencing and making decisions. By assigning stakeholders to each role, teams across industries and functional teams can work together in a structured manner that enables collaboration, communication, and results.

Also read: Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Approach in Project Management: Which is Best?

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